15 Days Beijing, Xian, Tibet, Yangtze River & Shanghai Escapade

Trip Overview

World well-known historic and cultural cities including Beijing and Xi'an, mysterious and holy city Lhasa, magnificent natural and man-made scenery along the Yangtze River and the prosperous metropolis Shanghai will make your China tour become colorful and impressive. You can not only learn the Chinese history and culture, but also appreciate the amazing natural scenery. What's more, this 15 days tour's highlight is Lhasa and Yangtze Cruise where you can experience the wonderful and unique scenery of the world highest plateau and the longest river.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Beijing (-/-/-)

Transfer via: Flight arrive Beijing arranged by you

Upon arrival, be met by the local guide then transfer you to the hotel. After checking-in, it is your free time to explore the city.

Day 2 Beijing (B/L/-)

In this morning, you will visit the Tian’anmen Square first. Tian’anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world, where you can visit Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes and so on. Then go head to "Forbidden City" where is the Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty (AD1636 – AD 1912), it’s the biggest palace complex in the world.

After lunch and a short rest, continue to Summer Place which is the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China. Located in the northwest of Beijing City, the Summer Palace is 15km from central Beijing. It was first constructed in 1750 and razed to the ground by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. It dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. When you travel in here, you can optional have a cruise on the Kunming Lake if the weather permits.

Day 3 Beijing (B/L/-)

This morning, you will go ahead to one of the greatest world heritage sites – the Great Wall. The section of Great Wall is Badaling Great Wall which is the best preserved and the most popular one amongst all the sections. It is more than 1,000 meters (3281 ft) above sea level, and commands a strategic position for transportation and defense in ancient times.

After lunch, continue to Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb. The Ming Tombs are located in Changping District, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the northwest of Beijing. There are thirteen imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) scattered over an area of forty square kilometers.

Then drive beck to your hotel. In the evening, you can optional to experience the Peking Opera.

Day 4 Beijing to Xi’an (B/L/-)

Transfer via: Flight from Beijing to Xi’an on our arrangement

After breakfast, you will go to explore the unique ancient Beijing Lanes and Alleys which called "Hutong" formed by lines of Shiheyuan. You can take a ride to these lanes to experience the local Beijing people’s life and visit the special old buildings.

In the afternoon, take flight to Xi’an. Upon arrive Xi’an, be met by the local tour guide at the airport, and then transfer to the hotel for checking-in and rest. The left time is free at your leisure.

Day 5 Xi'an (B/L/-)

You will start today’s tour to Terracotta Warriors after breakfast. Due to its historical significance and uniqueness, Terracotta Warriors become one of the top attractions in China. Terracotta Warriors lies 2 km east of The Tomb of Qin Shihuang, known as the First Emperor, who unified China 2,200 years ago. When you back to the city, you will have a short stop at a mountain village and pay a visit to the local families and residents.

After lunch, you will have another tour to Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum which is situated in the southern suburb of Xian City, northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a roomy, modern museum which contains over 370,000 relics chronicling Shaanxi civilization and culture from as far as prehistoric times. It covers 65,000 square meters, with a building area of 60,000 square meters. The newly built modern building recreates Tang-dynasty architecture and successfully symbolizes the great extent of Shaanxi history and its remarkable culture.

Day 6 Xi’an to Lhasa (B/L/-)

Transfer via: Flight from Xi’an to Lhasa on our arrangement

In this morning, take the early morning flight to Lhasa (takes about 4 hours). Upon arrival, be met by the local tour guide and then transfer to the hotel for check-in. the rest of time is free to acclimate the altitude of the world highest plateaus.

Day 7 Lhasa (B/L/-)

After yesterday afternoon’s acclimation, today you will start the holy city’s tour to Norbulingkha. Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.

After lunch, continue to Drepung Monastery, which is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse Mountain, five kilometers from the western suburb of Lhasa. It was built in 1416, covering an area of 250,000 square meters. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice.

Day 8 Lhasa (B/L/-)

You will not soon forget the spectacular architecture at the world-famous Potala Palace. Follow yesterday’s tour to Drepung Monastery, today you will have a full day tour to explore Potala Palace, Tibet Museum, Jokhang, Barkhor Street in Lhasa city.

As the day’s most important highlight, Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. It’s the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19mat the topmost point. This ancient architectural complex is considered a model of Tibetan architecture. Today the Potala Palace is a state museum, a popular tourist attraction, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was also recently named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World".

Except Except visit the Potala Palace, you will also have a tour to The Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Located in central Lhasa, with an area of 25,100 square meters, the Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. It was built to commemorate the marriage of the the Tang princess Wencheng to King Songtsen Gampo, and houses a pure gold statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni brought to Tibet by the princess. Several centuries later, it becomes one of Tibet's holiest shrines. Followed by the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street is essentially a pilgrim circuit that proceeds clockwise around the periphery of the Jokhang Temple. It is also a hive of market activity, an astounding pilgrim jamboree, and a wonderful introduction to Tibet.

Day 9 Lhasa to Chongqing (B/L/-)

Transfer via: Flight from Lhasa to Chongqing on our arrangement

It's free time for you to explore the holy city before transfer you to the airport for catching the flight to Chongqing.

In the later afternoon, you will board on the deluxe cruise ship. As the ship departs from Chongqing at about 21:00, your relaxing Yangtze River cruise begins.

Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City (1:00-3:00pm)

Fengdu is the first scenic spot while you start the Yangtze cruise from Chongqing. Fengdu Ghost City is a necropolis situated in Fengdu County about 170 km downstream from Chongqing on the north bank of the Yangtze River. It became known as Ghost City in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) when two officials from the Imperial court married and settled on Mt. Minshan just outside the city. Combined, their surnames, Yin and Wang, sound like King of Hell in Chinese. The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and banks. The only people here are those who make a living from visiting cruise boats.

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges (8:00am-1:00pm)

The Lesser Three Gorges, stretching 25 kilometers (16 miles) in the lower reaches of Daning River, are some of the highlights of a Yangtze River cruise. The Lesser Three Gorges are the three separate valleys, called Dragon Gate Gorge, Misty Gorge and Emerald Gorge. These lie on the lower reaches of the Daning, which flows into the Yangtze. Passengers often transfer to a smaller sightseeing ship at the mouth of Daning River for cruising upstream. The Gorges are famous for crystal clear rapids and sky scraping cliffs soar up towards the sky from the brown-green water. And the best way to experience the most beautiful picture of Lesser Three Gorges is taking a small boat drifting on the stream.

Day 12 Yichang to Suzhou (B/L/-)

Transfer via: Bullet train from Yichang to Suzhou on our arrangement.

Today, you will have a shore excursion to The Three Gorges Dam Site. The Three Gorges Dam Site is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man and it has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. Located in the middle of the three gorges on the Yangtze River, its construction formally began in 1994, while the body was completed in 2003, and the whole construction completed in 2009. The tourists can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities.

Then will arrive in Yichang at 1:30pm. After landing, will be transfer to Yichang railway station for catching the bullet train to Suzhou, where is a charming city and famous for its typical and beautiful ancient gardens. Upon arrival in Suzhou, be met by local tour guide and then transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Day 13 Suzhou / Shanghai (B/L/-)

In the morning, enjoy a boat ride on the Grand Canal which is the longest canal or artificial river in the world, starting at Beijing, and it passes through Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the city of Hangzhou. The section in Suzhou is boasted with wide surface, abundant and crystal clear water, and has been the best part of the Grand Canal for shipping. Then continue to Panmen City Gate and The Master of Fishing Nets Garden which is one of the smallest yet considered one of the best designed and most elegant of the private gardens exist at present.

In the afternoon, go to visit the new Suzhou Museum which is designed by I.M. Pei. Located at the intersection of Dongbei Street and Qimen Road, the New Suzhou Museum boasts over 30,000 Chinese relics. Its famous collections include Ming and Qing Dynasty paintings and calligraphy, jade, textiles, as well as ancient Chinese craftwork and silk.

Finishing the tour, drive back to Shanghai.

Day 14 Shanghai (B/L/-)

Start today's tour to Shanghai Museum which is a world-renowned museum of ancient Chinese art. It covers an area of 38,000 square meters, with a scale that surpasses the old museum several folds. It has the research departments of Chinese bronze, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, and artifacts, and a scientific laboratory for preservation of cultural relics, with researchers and associate researchers over fifty in number. After finishing, go ahead to Yuyuan Garden to experience the ancient classical garden and the Yuyuan Market.

In the afternoon, go to visit the Bund and Nanjing Road where you can explore the amazing Bund and the prosperous Nanjing road. In the evening, you can optional enjoy a fabulous Acrobatic Show.

Day 15 Shanghai Departure (B/-/-)

Transfer via: Flight departure Shanghai arranged by you

It's free time at your leisure before transfer you to the airport for taking the flight to your nest destination.